process

China wants to lay a cable from Chile to Hong Kong. And in the process, it has put Chile in a storm against the US

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Next March 11, Chile will have a new president. Gabriel Boric will no longer be in charge of the country and José Antonio Kast will land in the presidential chair. And he arrives just to take care of a morrocotudo mess: the submarine cable that China is deploying from Valparaíso to Hong Kong. And, evidently, the United States does not like this situation one bit. To the point that he considers it dangerous for his safety. In short. On February 20, the United States revoked the visas of three Chilean officials. The reason? Concern about an underwater cable that will connect Chile and Hong Kong. It’s not so much the cable, but who is ‘pulling’ it: China. As they point out in Mercopressit was the outgoing president who managed the agreement to deploy this cable through a concession decree signed on January 27, which allowed the company China Mobile to install, operate and exploit the cable. 48 hours later, that act was annulled citing “technical errors” and the Boric Administration commented that the project was in the evaluation process. The United States, however, wasted no time and banned the visas of the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, the Undersecretary of Telecommunications, and the Chief of Staff of Subtel (Chile’s Undersecretary of Telecommunications). The storm it had just started. political war. Marco Rubio is the Secretary of State of the United States and accused Chilean officials for having “knowingly directed, authorized, financed and supported activities that compromise critical telecommunications infrastructure.” You may be wondering what the United States cares about what Chile does, but Rubio continued by pointing out that this decision “undermines regional security in our hemisphere.” “Which hemisphere” is not the question, but what is happening now. Because Chile has responded that the accusation is “absolutely false” and describes the United States measure as “unilateral,” also pointing out that it is something that goes against Chile’s sovereignty. China has not stood by and, through its embassy in Santiago de Chile, accused the United States of acting in a hegemonic manner, ignoring Chile’s sovereignty to carry out these projects in its territory. If you look closely, the cables from the American continent pass through the US except for Google’s Halaihai, at least directly Cross-fire. Brandon Judd is the US ambassador to Chile and has sided with his government… going a little further in the accusations. Affirms which had already warned the Chilean authorities of what would happen, describing the agreement with China as an intrusion into Chilean telecommunications systems carried out by “malicious foreign actors.” And, as we said, it will be next March 11 when the new president will take office with a pending task: solving a monumental ballot. From the Foreign Relations Department of the incoming president, it has already been saying that “everything possible will be done to ensure that foreign policy allows for the best possible relations with all countries.” A 0º, neither cold nor hot. Influence. Leaving domestic and foreign politics aside, the cable is known as Chile-China Express and is estimated to measure almost 20,000 kilometers. It will link the Chilean city of Concón and reach Hong Kong. The budget is about 500 million dollars and its importance seems key because it would represent the first transpacific data route that would completely avoid routing through North America. From China Mobile it is pointed out that this cable will allow establish Chile as “the central node of the computing power network between China and Latin America.” Now we begin to understand what it is that “undermines regional security in our hemisphere” to which Marco Rubio referred. If completed, it will be a cable deployed by China and in which the United States will have no say, but which reaches the American continent. And we say that it is an important ballot for the new president because the United States injects a lot of money into Chile, being its main foreign investor, but China is the main trading partner of the country. A cable is going to put Kast between a rock and a hard place. Not only in telecommunications. In the background, we have a United States that is looking at the wolf’s ears. In recent months, and at an accelerated pace, China has been moving its chips. It has done this in developing countries on the African continent through energy deals, infrastructure construction, agreements to mine strategic elements and expand its automobile market. But he is also doing it in America. When the United States turned its back on Mexico with tariffs, China was there to offer to open factories. He is carrying out energy projects on American soil, he has interest in some of the strategic ports of the continent and is rolling out infrastructure, such as a railway line that, if completed, will link South America from east to west. The cable between Hong Kong and Chile is just one more piece of a puzzle that Beijing is weaving, which has already torn off with the works. And Washington only sees one thing: the wolf at the doors. In Xataka | The first great Atlantic submarine cable that connected us to the internet says goodbye for a simple reason: it was too expensive to repair it

step by step of the online process

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Let’s explain to you how to register your electric scooter in the DGTone of the procedures that all owners of these vehicles they must perform in addition to having mandatory civil liability insurance. As you already know, this new regulation finally begins to put a little control on electric scooters in Spain. Specifically, the standard affects all vehicles with one or more wheels that are moved by electric motors and that reach speeds between 6 km/h and 25 km/h. When you register your scooter with the process that we are going to tell you, you will be given a PDF with which you can acquire an identification tag that you are going to have to place on your vehicle, a license plate for the electric scooter. In addition, you will also have to take out mandatory insurance. Scooter registration is a procedure what has a cost of 8.67 eurosbut then the 20 or 40 it costs to issue the license plate. If you do not do so, you may be fined like the owner of any other unregistered vehicle. How to register your electric scooter To register your electric scooter or VMP in the DGTyou can do it in person or through the DGT website. The URL of the website you have to go to is headquarters.dgt.gob.es/es/vehiculos/matriculaciones-de-vehiculos/inscripcion-vmp/index.html. Now you will have to identify yourself on the DGT website, for which you will need to use the Cl@ve system. You can use the Permanent Key or mobile or digital certificatelike the FNMT certificate. You can also do it by phone or through the app. myDGT. Once you have logged in, your basic personal data will be automatically loaded, such as ID, name, address, etc. You will have to check that everything is correct and continue. Then, you will go to a screen where you will have to enter vehicle detailssuch as serial number, certificate number (you can watch it here), brand, model and type of use. Once you have completed this information, you will be taken to a page where you will have to Enter the data to pay the fees. When you do so, the registration will be confirmed and a PDF will be sent to your email, which will serve as proof of the operation. Now, with this document you can go create the registration for your scooter, and you will also have to take out the mandatory insurance. Just remember that when you stop using the scooter, just like with a car or a motorcycle, you will have to go to an authorized scrapyard or clean point to proceed with its destruction and have it definitively removed from the DGT, with the proof that they will give you at this center. Cover photo | Volodymyr Dobrovolskyy In Xataka Basics | DGT map: how to use it to see ALL traffic incidents on Spanish roads in real time

Filmin has released a documentary about the riot police of the process. And now it has threatening graffiti on its headquarters

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The Barcelona headquarters of Filmin It woke up on January 20 with graffiti on its façade: “Collaborators with Spanish repression.” The message, signed by the independence collective Nosaltres Sols!, marks the most critical moment of a boycott campaign that began days before on social networks. The trigger: the programming of the documentary ‘Icarus: the week in flames’, focused on the testimonies of riot police from the National Police who acted in Barcelona during the conflicts of October 2019, after the sentencing against the leaders of the processes. What is it about? ‘Ícarus: the week in flames’, directed by Elena G. Cedillo and Susana Alonso, reconstructs the riots that occurred in Barcelona for seven days in October 2019, after the sentence against the leaders of the processes. The documentary, filmed in 2022 and available on Filmin since January 9, is based on interviews with agents and commanders of the Police Intervention Units who participated in the operations. “We had the feeling that this was a war,” declares one of them. The sequences include material recorded by the riot police themselves and from a helicopter, with scenes of the clashes in El Prat, Urquinaona Square and in front of institutional headquarters. The answer. Jaume Ripoll, editorial director and co-founder of Filmin, has tried to defuse the controversy appealing to the classic principle of “Programming a film is not equivalent to subscribing to its approach.” The platform insists that it does not censor content based on ideological orientation and defends that cinema should serve to “look squarely at what makes us uncomfortable.” However, the virulence of the reaction raises a question that transcends the specific case: can streaming platforms maintain a position of editorial neutrality, or does their catalog inevitably reflect an ideological position? Filmin is the platform with greatest historical commitment with the Catalan language and culture. In June 2017, two years before the events narrated ‘Icarus’the company launched Filmin.catbecoming the first digital platform for series and movies specifically in Catalan, anticipating giants like Netflix or Disney+. According to the last report from the Audiovisual Consell of Catalonia Introduced in December 2025, Filmin includes Catalan (in audio, subtitles or both options) in 2,350 titles in its catalogue, which represents 20.7%. The figure contrasts radically with Prime Video (9.5%), Netflix (3.5%), Max (3.2%) or Disney+ (2.2%). The paradox. The data makes the controversy more striking: Filmin is the platform that has historically supported the Catalan language and culture the most. In June 2017, two years before the riots that ‘Ícaro’ documents, the company launched Filmin.catthe first digital platform dedicated specifically to series and cinema in Catalan, before Netflix or Disney+ did so. Latest report from the Audiovisual Consell of Cataloniafrom December 2025, places Filmin as the platform with the greatest presence of Catalan (whether in audio, subtitles or both) with 2,350 titles, 20.7% of its offer. The figures for Prime Video (9.5%), Netflix (3.5%), Max (3.2%) or Disney+ (2.2%) are much lower. The platform has also produced original fiction in Catalan through Filmin Originals, such as ‘Selftape’, a series by the Vilapuig sisters about abuses in the Catalan audiovisual industry, and has co-produced titles with international coverage such as ‘Molt Lluny’ or ‘Forastera’. This history makes more surprising the painting of “collaborationism with Spanish repression” that it has received, signed by Nosaltres Sols!, a right-wing independence group born from the 2019 mobilizations led by the influencer David Silvestre. Other platforms and ideological controversies. The case of Filmin is not an exception in the sector. The large platforms have experienced comparable situations in recent years: debates about the permanence of certain content in the catalog and whether programming a work implies endorsing it. Netflix went through one of its greatest internal turbulences in 2021 due to the comedy special ‘The Closer’, by Dave Chappelle, which sparked accusations of transphobia. Trans workers from the company called a protest rally calling for the withdrawal of the program. Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, justified keeping it on the platform by arguing that “not all of Netflix’s content will be to everyone’s taste.” Woody Allen, of course. Prime Video faced a conflict of a different nature in 2019, when Woody Allen took the platform to court for breaking a contract that provided for the distribution of four feature films. Amazon argued that the “public perception” of the filmmaker had changed after accusations of sexual abuse against him reappeared, a circumstance that made the agreement unviable from a commercial point of view. The dispute ended with an extrajudicial agreement whose terms were not disclosed, but established jurisprudence: platforms can disassociate themselves from commitments with creators if they consider that their reputation damages the corporate image, without the need for judicial convictions. And ‘Gone with the Wind’. HBO Max adopted a measure in June 2020 that caused international reactions: the Temporary withdrawal of ‘Gone with the Wind’ coinciding with the moment of greatest intensity of the Black Lives Matter mobilizations. The platform explained that the 1939 film reproduced “ethnic and racial prejudices” that could be “hurtful” seen from the present. Weeks later, the film returned to the catalog preceded by an intervention by film historian Jacqueline Stewart, who contextualized its historical relevance while pointing out its racist representations. The formula chosen by WarnerMedia established a middle path: a title can remain available without omitting its conflicting elements, as long as they are presented with the necessary critical framework. Header | Jaume Ripoll In Xataka | Disney+ has discovered that Generation Z does not want to watch its two-hour movies. So he’s going to give them vertical microdramas

“During the process with Amazon we did not bring innovation to the market for 18 months”

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There’s something liberating about talking to someone who doesn’t have to defend decisions they didn’t make. Gary Cohen He came to iRobot in 2024 to be its CEO when the founder, Colin Angle, He jumped ship after the collapse of the deal with Amazon. Now, more than a year later, from an office in Bedford where he has just renewed his lease – a gesture of permanence in the midst of chaos – he has spoken to Xataka with the frankness of who has had to choose between dignified death and pragmatic survival. “My goal is to make Colin proud,” he says of the departed founder. “He calls it ‘his baby.’ I want to make him feel like we were able to turn this company around.” It’s a curious statement coming from who just sold that baby to Picea Roboticsthe Chinese manufacturer that will now own the company that invented the home robot vacuum cleaner. Dead in the closet At one point in the conversation, Cohen drops an image that sticks: “I have hundreds of dead lawnmower robots in this building.” It refers to Terra project, iRobot’s failed attempt to expand beyond vacuum cleaners. These technological corpses are the perfect metaphor for a company that was ahead of the market… but did not know how to convert that advantage into products that arrived on time. Original sin was go all in on elegant but impractical technology. Colin Angle, a brilliant roboticist at MIT, insisted on camera-based navigation as Chinese competitors adopted LiDAR. Exactly the same as Tesla’s approach to Chinese cars, by the way. “Consumers want to map their homes in twenty minutes, not two hours,” Cohen explains with the wisdom of someone who comes from selling razors at Gillette, not robots. Two hundred software engineers worked at Machine Learning to make that vision work. Meanwhile, companies like Ecovacs or Roborock were overtaking them from the right with cheaper products and, to iRobot’s pain, technologically superior according to many customers. “During the period with Amazon, the management team took its foot off the gas and we didn’t bring innovation to market for about 18 months.” This confession about the 18 months of paralysis while they waited the approval of the sale to Amazon for 1.7 billion It’s devastating. The company was frozen, unable to react as the market moved at Chinese speed. It was not until the last year, already working with Picea, when iRobot incorporated LiDAR into its range. When European regulators ended up blocking the operation to “protect competition,” anddestiny was sealed. The irony hurts: those European regulators prevented an American company from buying another American company, and the result is that it has ended up being absorbed by a Chinese company that played its cards well. When I point out this paradox, Cohen responds cautiously and diplomatically: “This was not a hostile takeover. We went to them.” The creditor’s embrace The relationship with Picea began like many dependency relationships: out of necessity. iRobot I owed them 161 million in manufacturing costs when Cohen took over. They needed to completely reinvent themselves, and they needed to do it quickly. In less than a year they launched eight new models“finally giving the people what they wanted, including LiDAR navigation and scrubbing combo products.” But the final blow came from the tariffs. 46% on imports from Vietnamwhere they manufacture for the US market. $23 million extra in costs in 2025 alone. “Some potential buyers looked at our business and said ‘we don’t want to take risks until the tariff situation is resolved.’” The candidates evaporated one by one. When the last potential buyer couldn’t close the deal, Cohen made the pragmatic decision. “We told Picea: you have a great partnership with us, why don’t you buy from us?” And in one month they closed the deal that turns the supplier, creditor and competitor, all in onein owner. The promise of continuity “Is business as usual. iRobot is here to stay. “We don’t expect any disruption.” Cohen insists Roombas will continue to work, apps will maintain their service and support will continue. For the millions of users (in Spain, where “Roomba” has become as synonymous with a robot vacuum cleaner as “Kleenex” is with a handkerchief) this is the only thing that matters. The offices will remain: Bedford, Tokyo, Madrid, London. Or so the CEO claims. The MIT engineers who form the ‘iRobot Labs’ will continue working. “We have intellectual property that we contribute. They have patents. Together we will be able to differentiate products much more.” The official narrative is optimistic because think about the perfect marriage between American innovation and Chinese efficiency. But when I ask how much of the new product line was actually developed by iRobot, the answer says a lot without saying, “It’s been a partnership.” The most innovative features, such as the compactor container wave retractable scrub roller coverwere developed by Picea. The value of being late “You have to treat every day as if you were second or third, not as if you were first.” It is the advice that Cohen would give to technology entrepreneurs, born from his experience at Gillette when they had 60% of the market but acted as challengers. At some point, iRobot forgot that lesson between its IPO in 2005 and its forced sale for a fraction of its peak value. “My goal,” Cohen says near the end, “is to make customers like your mother happy.” You are referring to my comment about how difficult it was for my mother to set up her Roomba. It’s a modest promise for a company that dreamed of revolutionizing domestic robotics, but maybe realism is exactly what they need now. There is something moving about Cohen defending a company he didn’t build, trying to save half a thousand jobs, promising to honor the legacy of a founder who is no longer here. “Colin was a visionary,” he says, then honestly adds that they couldn’t execute that vision. The future has a … Read more

The SEPE will automatically process your IMV

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According to October data From the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, 773,272 households have received the Minimum Vital Income (IMV), providing coverage to 2,363,554 people. This represents an increase of 19.25% in the number of households that receive this benefit. Until now, for receive the IMV It was necessary to make an application and provide the necessary documentation. As announced in your X profile the ministry headed by Elma Saiz, the gateway has been activated that will allow those people who have run out of unemployment benefits without having found a jobthey are automatically granted the IMV without having to carry out the ordinary procedures. Expansion of coverage to vulnerable people. The Government has launched a system so that people who finish collecting unemployment and they are still unemployedbegin to collect the Minimum Vital Income (IMV) automatically, as long as they meet the requirements of the benefit. The Ministry’s statement emphasizes that the objective is that those who are in a situation of vulnerability They do not run out of income while trying to find work and they do not have to face more bureaucracy at a difficult time. “With the launch of this gateway, we eliminate administrative barriers and make it easier for citizens in vulnerable situations to receive the help they need automatically, without cumbersome procedures or unnecessary delays,” said Minister Elma Saiz in the statement. Official processing. The IMV granting gateway connects the end of the unemployment benefit with the start of the IMV to avoid an interruption in income in economically dependent households. As explained by the ministry, during the quarter prior to the exhaustion of the unemployment benefit, the SEPE will notify the beneficiary that their aid is about to end and will inform them that they can authorize the sending of their data and that of their family unit to Social Security to process the IMV, as established in the simplification of IMV applications that regulated the Royal Decree-Law 2/2024. Concession of office. If the person gives their consent, and meets the requirements, the SEPE has a maximum period of 10 days from the end of the unemployment benefit to send the application to the INSS to process the benefit. When the right is recognizedthe Minimum Living Income comes into force on the same day it is unemployment benefit runs outso the first payment of the IMV occurs on the first day of the following month so that people in vulnerable situations “receive the help they need automatically, without cumbersome procedures or unnecessary delays.” Tap on the image to go to the original message Automated management. The most important change is that the unemployed person does not have to submit a new application or provide additional documentation to access the IMV through this route. The transmission of data is carried out ex officio by the SEPE, which eliminates “administrative burdens” and avoids in-person or telematic procedures that could previously delay the collection of aid. Who is the measure aimed at?. As and as I pointed out The Newspaperthe measure is thought for people between 23 and 65 years old who exhaust their unemployment benefit and whose income does not exceed the limits set for each type of cohabitation unit. As a reference, the annual income limit for a single person is 7,250 euros and for a family of four this limit rises to 13,775 euros. According to data provided by the Ministry, the average amount of the IMV is 473.41 euros per month per household, although this amount varies depending on the nature of each household. This aid is complemented with 115 euros per household per month in the case of children from 0 to 3 years old; 80.5 euros per month for each child between 3 and 6 years old; and 57.5 euros per month for each minor between 6 and 18 years old. What happens if you cannot use the automatic route. If for any reason this automatic gateway cannot be used (because the unemployed person does not give consent or because data is missing), the option still exists. traditional application route. In these cases, the IMV can be requested through the Social Security benefits portal, by mail or in person at the Social Security Assistance and Information Centers (CAISS). In addition, along with the new automatic processing platform, the 020 telephone number for assistance and information has also been enabled for the Minimum Living Income procedures. In Xataka | Job insecurity prevails among young people and the salary does not reach them: the “B salary” is gaining more and more followers Image | Wikimedia Commons (Lojwe), Unsplash (Huyen Pham)

Mercadona has become the queen of Spanish food. And in the process it is making gold for some suppliers

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The forecast was shocking. So much so that it generated a considerable stir. In spring, during the presentation of Mercadona’s annual report, Juan Roig predicted that in a matter of 25 years, kitchens will disappear from homes because people will eat outside the home or eat ready-to-eat dishes. That conviction (which Roig preaches since at least 2019), added to the commitment to white label and local stores, has turned Mercadona into a heavy weight of the retail sector, with a market share that is close to 30%. Not only that. By the way, the Valencian firm is making gold from a few companies that have become allies of its food strategy. One figure: 150 million. Its name may not tell you much, but if you shop frequently at Mercadona (for food) it is quite likely that you have tried the products of Martinez Family. The company is made up of Embutidos Martínez, Platos Tradicionales, Cinco Tenedores and La Pila Food and is a key supplier to Mercadona, basically in its prepared food offering. The group (Also of Valencian origin) manufactures lasagna, gratins and roasts. So far nothing exceptional. The curious thing is that recently Familia Martínez revealed which will invest a whopping 150 million euros between this and next year to reinforce the Platos Tradicionales facilities and keep up with Mercadona. To be more precise, he wants a larger surface area for barbecues, for which he will gain 20,000 m2 in Buñol; and provide a 3,500 m2 logistics center in Torrent, a space for distribution and storage with capacity for 1,000 pallets. Why is it important? For several reasons. The main one is what it reveals to us about both Familia Martínez and Mercadona. And in turn what that tells us about consumer trends. The commitment of the Valencian supplier coincides with the growth of the offer of ready meals and the so-called “fifth range“, processed, cooked and packaged foods. As a reference, the Spanish Association of Prepared Dish Manufacturers (Asefapre) calculates that the consumption of its products rose 6.6% last year in Spanish homes. “These investments are not just figures, they are a sample of our commitment to accompany the growth of our great client,” confirm the CEO of Familia Martínez, Raúl Martin Calvo. And in Mercadona (around 85% of your business) the bet is clear. Juan Roig’s chain takes years expanding its “ready to eat” section, with foods already prepared for consumption. The last annual report from Mercadona shows that in 2024 the service was available in 1,200 stores in Spain and 60 in Portugal, an expansion that “has not stopped growing”. Is it a special case? Familia Martínez is not the only one that is growing thanks largely to Mercadona’s tailwinds. The Country posted this saturday an article about Ozturk Quebapa firm based in Toledo, founded in 2015 and specialized in the production of kebab and meat products. Again, its name may not sound familiar to you, but if you like the traditional Turkish meat that Mercadona sells, you have probably tasted its creations. Ozturk is a supplier for the Hacendado brand for a few years. Its history predates the pact with the Valencian chain, but as they admit in Ozturk “with Mercadona everything changes.” The company saw its activity increase and acquired a second plant. Now it also sells to countries such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Finland and France. According to precise The Countrylast year it had a turnover of close to 64 million and its forecasts are to exceed 75 this year, a scenario that does not seem unattainable if one takes into account that it reached 37.8 in the first semester. Add and continue of names. Familia Martínez or Ozturk are examples of companies that are growing driven by Mercadona’s strategy in food, but not the only ones. The sushi offer of the Valencian chain gave wings for example to the Norwegian Leroy Seafood Group. In May Info Retail informed that its subsidiary Leroy Processing Spain It closed 2024 with a turnover of 122.5 million euros and its objective is to reach 160 in 2025, with a growth of 30%. The firm landed in Spain more than a decade ago and began making sushi and Japanese food long before 2021, but even so Mercadona has played a strategic role the last few years. Profand, Panamar and Tarradellas. Three other relevant names in Mercadona’s food supply. The first, the Galician fishing company Profand, is an integrated supplier to the Valencian supermarket chain, which has helped it market a whopping 78 million trays of fish throughout last year, with a growth of 13%. The signature itself stood out that nuance in a statement in which he celebrated having overcome the 1 billion of cash. In 2023 Panamar too saw rebound its turnover after becoming a supplier of bread to the Valencian chain and Tarradellas House wave Estiu refrigerator They have found in it a valuable pillar. Everyone benefits from the formula that is driving the Roig chain: its ability to gain market share in a sector highly disputedthe commitment to white label and local stores and the conviction that domestic kitchens actually have the years counted. Images | Mercadona In Xataka | Action supermarkets have gone from being unknown to conquering half of Europe. In Spain they will not have it easy

The same process that set your manicure is now under suspicion

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September starts, and with him the return of many routines. In beauty salons, UV lamps come back on to shine and hardness to the nails after summer. But something has changed: some of the most popular enamels can no longer be used. A European prohibition has just entered into force and promises to transform the manicure industry. New course, new rules. The new course arrives with a background change in European beauty salons: since September 1, 2025, enamels with TPO or DMPT/DMTA, two essential chemicals in the low lamp -fixing process, can no longer be sold or applied. Regulation (EU) 2025/877, approved last MayIt is blunt. For the European Commission, There is no margin of doubts: Both compounds are in the category of CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction). AND There is also no time margin: The prohibition is immediate, without the possibility of selling warehouse remains or continuing to use them in rooms. The sanitary motifs that push the veto. The decision is based on scientific studies that point to serious health risks. According to eldiario.esthe DMPT showed carcinogenic effects on livers, lungs and stomachs of rats and mice. For its part, the TPO, a photoiniciator that accelerates drying with UV light, has been linked to fertility damage and reproduction problems, As The Independent explained. Experts Consulted by the country They warn that hall professionals are the most exposed, manipulating these substances and inhaling them daily. “The greatest risk is when it is applied, because at that time you can inhale and get in contact with the skin,” Miguel Motas, toxicologist at the University of Murcia, told the medium. The European Commission confirmed that the TPO has been classified as toxic to the 1B category reproduction and, since no exception request was submitted, its inclusion in the list of prohibited substances was automatic. A market that is recomposed. For brands, the consequence is clear: reformulate products. According to a woman todaythere are already alternative formulas without Tpo or DMPT that resort to less aggressive photoiniciators. The prohibition, in fact, could accelerate innovation and open the door to safer and sustainable products. While Europe hardens the rules, in the United States the TPO continues for sale. The Independent He has pointed out that the regulatory difference could force multinationals to unify formulas on a global scale so as not to maintain two different versions. A blow to the halls. Critical voices arise from the sector itself. The TPO-EU platform, that groups distributors and professionalsdenounces that the measure has been applied “suddenly” and without transition margin. According to its spokesmen, this lack of adaptation period will force to withdraw entire stocks and will cause significant losses for thousands of small manicure rooms. While Brussels argues that health protection must be above any other interest, TPO-EU claims a more balanced approach, with implementation deadlines that allow the sector to adapt without sinking economically. In contrast, they remember that in countries like the United States, products with TPO are still marketed, which shows that the European prohibition has been too drastic. Although there is more. Beyond the European veto, gel manicures have long dragged medical criticism. According to the Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicineallergic dermatitis consultations, bleeding, pain or UV rays are increasingly frequent. Prolonged use also damages natural nails: fragility, dryness, spots and onicolysis (nail detachment) are consequences described in a report by The Conversation. Even asthma cases and allergic reactions have been documented, probably due to the dispersion of allergens throughout the day. The problem is not limited to chemicals. Nail dryers that emit ultraviolet light are also under suspicion. As The New York Times has detaileddifferent studies show that this radiation can deteriorate the DNA of the skin and generate mutations similar to those of a melanoma. The principle of a broader change? The case of semi -permanent enamels is not isolated. As noted by professor Nicolás Olea in the countrythe European Agency for Substances and Chemical Mixtures will not stop at the TPO: the debate on other compounds (eg, triclosan or certain nanomaterials) is still underway. The current prohibition marks a turning point: it requires the industry to raise the security bar and consumers decide informed. Between the promise of impeccable nail and health prudence, Europe has moved file and changed its balance. Image | Unspash Xataka | There are people traveling to Türkiye and undergoing one of the most painful medieval torture with one goal: to be higher

China’s 125% tariffs are the entrance door to an even more drastic process: “decoupling”

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The New Tariff war between Washington and Beijing It is creating the conditions for a total separation of the two largest economies in the world, something that just one year ago seemed unthinkable. What’s happening. Trump has suspended the highest tariffs for dozens of countries for 90 daysbut those applied to China has increased to 125%, marking a clear strategy: isolate Beijing. This rotation is not a decala. On the contrary, it is an attempt to form a common front against China, turning what seemed like a multilateral commercial conflict in a bilateral confrontation. In figures. The magnitude of this break is huge: 73% of the phones that the United States uses from China. 78% computers have Chinese origin. 87% of video game consoles. And 77% of toys. Between the lines. This crisis is not accidental, but calculated strategy. Trump first created a worldwide threat and then appeared as someone reasonable by offering a partial truce. For all except for China, on whom it maintains maximum pressure. “We can reach an agreement with our allies”, said The Treasury Secretary, Scott Besent. “They have been good military allies, although not so good in the economic. And then we can face China as a united block.” The background. 125% tariffs account for a practically impassable barrier for trade. It is not only protectionism, but total economic decoupling. The impact is immediate: Goldman Sachs has trimmed its growth forecast for China From 4.5% to 4% by 2025. Meanwhile, 19 billion dollars have vanished from world stock markets since February, according to Bloomberg. And now what. We go towards A world economy divided into blockssomething not seen from the collapse of the Soviet Union. Beijing has already suggested that he could devalue a Yuan already increasingly weak. And has warned its citizens against traveling or studying in the United States. Chinese authorities have made it clear that they will not be the first step to negotiate, while Trump says he is “waiting” for his call. The key moment. Trump’s strategy goes through a vision of zero sum: use the size of the US market as a lever and create conditions for other countries Choose side. Block. Island. “Trust has vanished,” says Da Wei, director of the International Security and Strategy Center at the Tsinghua University in Beijing. “In the balance between economic development and economic security, security will always be emphasized. This is a long -term change.” Global supply chains have been built for decades of a globalization now questioned. And also now face a change of roles whose consequences are impossible to anticipate with certainty. In Xataka | The EU moves token and approves its retaliation tariffs to the US: we already know when the counterattack will begin to be applied Outstanding image | Xataka

Madrid libra a new existential battle in its tourist process: the invasion of the tuk tuk

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Until not so long ago tuk tuk They were associated mainly with Thailand or India, populations of Asia where they circulated through crowded streets, often with foreigners on board. Not anymore. As Spain Win weight in the International Capital Tourist Circuit as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville either Alicante They have begun to see how These vehicles Light and three -wheeled, they reached their neighborhoods, becoming passing through A headache For the authorities. In Madrid They know well. So much that the City Council has launched to the complicated task of regular Your activity. Fever Tuktukera. In the most busy destinations the Tourist It is felt in different ways and on different fronts: in the real estate marketin The commercial fabric And in the streets. In February we told you how in the center of Madrid there are already bass that They have passed to host banks to become private and payment WC. The tuk tuk They are another test. A few years ago they associated with cities like Bangkok. Now they are common in Spanish destinations (Valencia, Alicante either A Coruñato mention three) where they offer tours for tourists who want to save walks. Click on the image to go to Tweet. THE CASE OF MADRID. Another clear example is Madrid. At least in the summer of 2023 the sector calculated that they operated there about 50 tuk tuk managed by a dozen companies and freelancers. It is not bad if you consider that fever Tuktukera It started in Spain makes less than a decadetowards 2016. That is a quick search for that year and a half In networks either Google It shows that in Madrid there are still people who offer tours aboard these light vehicles. In fact their number is high enough (or visible) so that they can be found in X complaints from neighbors who denounce their presence in THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE REAL PALACE either San Migueltwo Hot Spots of Madrid tourism. They also have been under time The media focus and of the municipal authorities, which They have put themselves To analyze your situation. But … why? Because although its number can be much lower than that of taxis (Madrid has 15,700 licenses) either VTC vehiclesthe tuk tuk They present certain peculiarities that have generated debate. Both in Madrid and other cities, including Seville, Barcelona either Alicante. The controversy usually revolves around several points: its presence in the streets (with the consequent Effect on traffic), its regulatory framework and the competition they pose for traditional mobility alternatives, such as taxis. The Tourism Area of ​​the City of Madrid I explained recently to The Spanish that belong to the category l of motor vehicles with less than four wheels and, therefore, have a circulation permission. Its normative lace seems, however, less clear. The city mayor itself, José Luis Martínez Almeida, I recognized A few months ago being “worried” about “the phenomenon of tuk tuk“ Click on the image to go to Tweet. Ordering the sector. In addition to recognizing your concern, in September Almeida revealed that had ordered the Councilor for Tourism to specify “the regulatory framework” that protects the tuk tuk. The objective: “to be able to make decisions about it.” The opposition itself He has shown In fact, their “doubts about the legal margins” in which these vehicles provide their tourist services, in addition to the competition they exert on licensed taxis. At the beginning of the year the City Council assured that he is studying “everything” related to the service, but warned that it is not the only administration that must act. “All this is being studied, but first it is necessary tuk tuk“, They remembered from the municipal area of ​​Finance. “They hinder traffic”. The debate around the regulatory framework has not prevented the tuk tuk Be well visible, especially in the points with the greatest flow of tourists in the city. “Apart from the Royal Palace, Bailén and Major the San Miguel market is horrible,” They recognized Recently from the sector. “Legally in these areas you can stop for a moment if it is to collect or leave the client; but many companies and self -employment stop, park, and offer their services to capture tourists, hindering traffic.” {“Videoid”: “X80ZM7F”, “Autoplay”: False, “Title”: “How your town or city has changed in 40 years: This is the new function of Google Earth”, “Tag”: “”, “Duration”: “135”} In Atocha as in Bangladesh. The taxi drivers are also very critical and in 2023 they warned of the competition they suffered. “We begin to see that they take tourists in the hotels with suitcases and take them to the stations. We have detected them around Atocha, as if this were Bangladesh,” regretted At that time the professional federation of the Taxi of Madrid. Among the professionals who are in charge of driving these vehicles, they would “love to” have stops for tuk tuk regulated. Images | César (Flickr) In Xataka | Spanish tourism faces the real risk of dying of success. There are already guides that advise three of its great destinations (Function () {Window._js_modules = Window._js_modules || {}; var headelement = document.getelegsbytagname (‘head’) (0); if (_js_modules.instagram) {var instagramscript = Document.Createlement (‘script’); }}) (); – The news Madrid libra a new existential battle in its tourist process: the invasion of the tuk tuk It was originally posted in Xataka by Carlos Prego .

An AI system will process a data flood

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Madrid and other parts of Spain are being filled with cameras with artificial intelligence (AI). The City Council of the aforementioned city has been expanding its ambitious video surveillance system, focusing on points of great influx of public roads. But the expansion of these technologies does not stop there. In parallel, Renfe is developing an intelligent security system, where algorithms play a key role. Cameras in more than 400 vicinity stations. The rail transport company The installation has ended of an intelligent video surveillance system in 415 seasons of vicinity throughout Spain. The same has several pieces, among which IP cameras, CCTV recorders, video analytics servers and, as we said, algorithms of AI that give life to what they have called “spaces of high predictive security.” How does the new Renfe smart video surveillance system work? Traditional video surveillance systems depend on human supervision: it is the operators who must identify situations that require intervention. However, technology is reliefing this load when analyzing images in real time and sending automatic alerts to security centers when necessary. In the case of Renfe, the cameras are connected to the analytical servers of each station, in charge of detecting maximum afor and agglomerations. In addition, they allow identifying those who try to sneak into the accesses, falls in platforms or roads, fires and acts vandalism such as graffiti or damage to the furniture. The alerts arrive directly to the 24 -hour Safety Center of Renfe, promising to speed up the response to incidents. The rail operator recognizes that her security system had been obsolete. Although it had thousands of cameras spread over hundreds of stations, they lacked the technology necessary to integrate into the new monitoring system. To solve this limitation, the RS3 project (Renfe Smart Security Station) was launched, whose first phase has just concluded and whose second phase will begin in March. A millionaire investment. The project has a budget of more than 32 million euros and aims to modernize 597 stations distributed among the 12 Cercanías and Rodalies nuclei. The first phase, already completed, has been an investment of 25.8 million euros, while the second, which will cover the renewal of the systems in 182 additional stations, will have a budget of 6.5 million euros. Financing comes from the NextGeration funds of the European Union. What about the data collected? Every time there is talk of data collection, the doubt about the impact on user privacy arises. This makes sense if we take into account that European legislation is very strict in this regard. Renfe’s new video analytics system manages a large amount of data, but the company says it has taken measures to comply with the existing regulations. The system collects video images anonymously. Does not capture or record audio. Nor is biometric data. Processing is performed automatically with AI. The data collected are eliminated after “milliseconds.” In the case of the standard video surveillance system, the images are preserved last a maximum period of one month. The company’s privacy policy for your video analytics system states that users can exercise their rights, including the right to oblivion, opposition, suppression or limitation of data processing, sending an email to rights.viajeros@renfe.es. In addition, it offers A detailed map with the stations that already have the new security system. Images | Renfe (1, 2, 3) In Xataka | Facial recognition has been expensive for an Alicante company: a fine of 220,000 euros for signing with biometry

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